A version of this story appeared in Total Annarchy, my fortnightly newsletter that helps you be a better writer, storyteller, marketer. Get it in your inbox; you’ll love it.
Consider this a reminder: There is no right way to Covid.
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I was out on my daily forced family walk around the neighborhood with my daughter. We cross the street when we see other groups shuffling toward us—they are also let out into the sunlight for their daily exercise.
Before now, my daily walk has been a special time for just for me and my earbuds, worn like a shield, the way you do on an airplane when you don’t want to chitchat.
Usually I barely acknowledge any other person I happen to pass on the street. My day is packed with calls and emails and all kinds of inputs. My one hour outside is Me time. Go away.
But not anymore: Now I pause and enthusiastically shout hello and big-smile to my neighbors and how you holding up…? Everyone OK…? Yeah we’re good just making the best of it….
After the third round of this theater, my daughter Caroline turns to me, incredulous: “Who are you?”
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What habits will you keep post Covid-19? What are you doing now that you’ll continue to practice post-virus pandemic?
I keep pining for my old life—for things to go back to the way they were. Before this pandemic put so many of our lives and well-being at risk. Before it hobbled everything and you and me and everyone.
But maybe now is also a good time to recalibrate a few things: Who we are. How we’ve been living. What we value.
“Who are you?” is another way of asking, “Who were you?”
So now, Who I Am is the kind of person who is gradually flipping a few scripts on Who I Was. Is the same true for you?
Here are 14 habits worth keeping post-Covid, curated from a thread I posted on LinkedIn last week:
- Make Takeout Tuesday from local restaurants a thing.
- Choose news inputs carefully + thoughtfully: Bad news in the morning, good news before bed.
- Greater awareness of how much we’re consuming (toilet paper, antiseptic wipes, wine!)
- Less texting, more Zooming.
- Flipping the script on the vague “We should get together sometime” to “Can you do lunch on this specific day?”
- Saying No to nonessential business travel; saying Yes to being home for dinner.
- Pajamas-on-the-bottom, business-casual on the top.
- More appreciation for people in jobs who didn’t seem “essential” before but are now literally keeping us from descending into a complete freak-out.
- Endless gratitude to healthcare workers.
- Honest empathy for the pressures and challenges that my colleagues experience just to get any work done whatsoever.
- The sudden ability to conjure up “dinner” out of a potato, leftover lasagna, and a pile of rocks.
- A weirdness about touching surfaces and shaking hands.
- Newfound knowledge of how to *actually* wash our hands.
- And finally… you heard this already…. but SAY HI FIRST. (Thanks, Joe Terry.)
You can see the full list of life in a post-Covid world here.
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Much gratitude for everyone who suggested these new habits and others, especially Karen Handley, Sharon Dowdy, Laura Hall, Nancy Sheed, Sue Krause, Cathy McPhillips, Susan Baracco, Mary Rosebrook, Angela Earl, and Tamara McCleary.
Your writing really speaks to me as I go through the self-evaluation/discovery process. I have worked in the home textiles and home interiors field most of my life. I was laid off during the 2008 recession and after 2 years re-entered the workforce as a life skills instructor at an arts based program for adults with I/DD. I have served as a clinical services quality professional/case manager for the last 2years. I’m currently laid off due to COVID-19.
Ann, very nice checklist of things a person can do to readjust themselves to the new Post COVID 19 world.
I especially like the thought of more Zoom calls -especially to weak or neglected connections.
Down the road, would love for you to share your thoughts about agility and talent-driven work groups. Your thoughts? Thanks, Joe
Excellent list, funny but true. If only this post-covid period had already come to make our lives safe. It certainly gave us a huge boost for a new work routine but I also miss many old habits.